Shade-roller mounting.



J. C. LION.

SHADE ROLLER MOUNTING. APPLICATION FILED MAR- 8, 19l.

I Pt ted Feb. 13, 1917.-

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SHADE ROLLER MOUNTING.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 8, 19I6. 1,215,671. I Patented Feb. 13,1917.

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Witnesses ye zrm, by

Attorneys.

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JOHN CHARLES LION, OF ST. MARYS, PENNSYLVANIA.

SHADE-ROLLER MOUNTING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 13, 1917.

Application filed March 8, 1916. Serial No. 82,948.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JoHN C. LION, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Marys, in the county of Elk and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Shade-Roller Mounting, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention appertains to shade roller mountings, and aims to provide novel and improved means for mounting a shade roller for vertical adjustment, although the invention can be used for mounting for vertical adjustment any roller, similar to a shade roller, upon which a pliant shade or other sheet is rolled.

The present invention is particularly useful in connection with a shade roller, to enable the roller to be moved downwardly to various distances, for purpose of ventilation, such as when the upper sash of a window is lowered for the circulation of air, and when it is desired to lower the shade so that it will not be flapped by the wind.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a shade roller mounting utilizing a common spring for winding up the shade upon the roller, and for returning the roller to its normal raised position, there being two ratchet devices, one for holding the shade unwound, and the other for holding the roller in lowered position. The ratchet devices are similar to those now used in shade rollers, and this enables the shade to be readily wound up, and the roller to be re turned to normal raised position.

.The invention also includes novel means for guiding the roller for verticalmovement, and the structure is also comparatively simple and compact, and is readily attached to various windows. The device also enables the shade roller to be detached and removed when desired, and has other advantageous features as will be apparent when the details of the invention are better understood.

lVith the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a front view of a shade and its roller with the improved mounting, portions being broken away and others being shown in section.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is avertical sectional detail taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. l, with the roller raised at or near to its normal position.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line M of Fig. 1 with the roller raised to the same position as seen in Fig. 3.

' Figs. 5 and 6 are sectional details taken on the lines 55 and 6-6, respectively, of Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the ratchet sleeve. 7

Fig. 8 is a sectional view illustrating a modification, portions being shown in elevation and others being broken away.

Fig. 9 is a section on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a sectional detail.

In the drawings, there is illustrated a shade roller 1 of ordinary construction, with the exception that a longitudinal shaft or spindle 2 is journaled for rotation completely through the roller 1 axially thereof with its ends protruding. The shaft 2 can be readily applied to ordinary shade rollers, as will be apparent. This shaft 2 is journaled through. an inwardly projecting boss 3 of the disk or plate 4: which is attached to one end of the roller 1 to close the mouth of the counter bore 5 in which the coiled spring 6 is disposed. One end ofsaid spring 6 is'attached to the boss 3, and the other end thereof isattached to a collar 7 secured upon the shaft 2, whereby when the shade 8 is unwound from the roller 1, the spring 6 will be wound up to rotate the roller 1 for wind 'ing up the shade subsequently. Pivotally connected to the disk 4: is a pair'of pawls 9, which are preferably of hook-shape, and which are engageable in an uppernotch 10 of a ratchet sleeve 11 which is mounted upon one protruding terminal of the shaft 2. The notch 10 is adjacent the inner end of the sleeve 11 which bears against the disk t between the. pawls 9.

Mounted upon the terminals of the shaft 2 are the spools 12 and 13, each of which is preferably constructed of two sheet metal sections fitted together, although spools of various constructions can be used. The spool 12 is secured rigidly upon that terminal of the shaft 2 near the end of the roller 1 which has the pawls 9, and the spool 13 has an inwardly projecting hub 14 fitted upon the respective terminal of the shaft 2 and secured rigidly to said shaft by means of a set screw 15. By loosening the set screw 15, the spool 13 can be adjusted to different positions, whereby the two spools can be set at different distances apart for accommodating various windows.

The spools 12 and 13 are movable vertically within a pair of vertical channelsha'ped guides 17, preferably formed from sheet metal, and which can be secured by means of screws or otherwise to the jambs of a window casing or frame, either upon the inner side of the frame, or upon the face thereof. The backs of the guides 17 can be secured to the inner side of the window casing or frame, or certain flanges of said guides can be secured to the face of the frame or casing, depending on whether the shade is used within the frame or adjacent the face thereof.

Secured to and wound upon the spools 12 and 13 are ribbons or tapes 18, preferably of flexible metal, and these spiral ribbons are so arranged as to be unwound when the roller is lowered, for rotating the shaft 2 in such a direction as to wind up the spring 6. The upper ends of the ribbons 18 have attached thereto rigid bars or strips 19 which are apertured to engage the hooks 20 projecting from certain flanges of the guides 17 adjacent their upper ends. The strips 19 in being rigid prevent the ribbons 18 from becoming accidentally detached from the hooks 20, and also facilitates the manual at tachment of the ribbons to and the detachment thereof from the hooks 20 in applying and removing the roller, respectively.

The flanges of the guides 17 are provided with inturned lips 21 projecting toward one another and between which the shaft 2 projects into the guides. A grooved anti-frictional roller 22 is mounted for rotation upon the sleeve 11 and engages the lips 21 of one guide 17, and a grooved anti-friction roller 23 is mounted for rotation upon the hub 1%, between the spool 13 and roller 1 and engages the lips 21 of the other guide 17. This roller 23 can shift longitudinally upon the hub 14 to remain in proper position with respect to the guide. The roller 22 fits an annular rib or collar 24 with which the sleeve 11 is provided to assist in holding the roller 23 in proper position upon said sleeve.

The sleeve 11 is provided adjacent its outer end with an upper notch 25 for the engagement of hook-shaped pawls 26 pivoted to the inner face or side plate of the spool 12, and one of the pawls 26 in engaging the notch 25, will prevent the rotation of the spool 12 and shaft 2 relative to the non-rotating sleeve 11.

This sleeve 11 is prevented from turning since it has a reduced square or non-circular portion 27 engaged by a downwardly extending bar or strip 28, which bar is provided with a longitudinal slot 29 extending from its upper end to a point between its ends, and providing the prongs 30. Said prongs 30 are provided adjacent their upper free ends and at their inner edges with angular notches 31 receiving the non-cir cular portion 27 of the sleeve 11, the prongs 30 being readily snapped into engagement with said portion 27, whereby the bar 28 will prevent the rotation of the sleeve. The roller 22 is held in place between the rib 24 and bar 28 so that it cannot shift out of position, and this holds the roller against shifting longitudinally of itself out of place. Attached to the bar 28 adjacent its lower end, is a spindle 32 upon which is mounted a grooved roller 33 engaging the lips 21 of the guide 17 below the roller 22, whereby to provide anti-friction means for guiding the lower end of the bar 28 for vertical movement. A cord, chain or other flexible element 3 1 can be attached to the spindle 32 to be suspended therefrom, whereby said flexible element can be operated from below to conveniently adjust the position of the shade roller, when it is not possible to grasp the spindle or knob 32, but when this is possible, the roller can be adjusted without using the cord or flexible element 34.

For convenience in removing the shade roller, those flanges of the guides 17 opposite the fianges having the hooks 20 are provided adjacent their upper ends with cut away portions or openings 35,-through which openings the roller can be inserted and removed. The openings 35 are normally.

closed by removable pieces 36 having the lips 37 to aline with the respective lips 21 of theguides for the engagement of the guide rollers when the shade is moved to its uppermost position, as seen in Fig. 4:. The lower ends of the pieces 36 have downwardly extending resilient tongues 38 pivotally engaging pivots 39 attached to those flanges of the guides which have the openings 35. The upper ends of the pieces 36 have ears 10 engaging behind the upper ends of the last mentioned flanges of the guides above the openings 35, and said flanges have the lips or portions 4-1 above the openings 35 for holding the cars 10 in place. The tongues 38 are resilient, to hold the pieces 36 in place, with the ears 4-.0 behind the lips 11. By pressin the upper ends of the pieces 36 inwardly, the ears 40 can be disengaged from the guides, so that the pieces 36 can be swung inwardly and downwardly out of the way, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 4.

In operation, the shade S can be unrolled and rolled up in the ordinary inamier at any position of the roller. When the shade is pulled downwardly, the roller 1 is rotated in such a direction as to wind up the spring 6, the pawls-9 moving past the chamfered notch 10 of the ratchet sleeve 11, so that when the rotation of the roller is stopped, one pawl 9 will be in position to engage the notch 10 when the roller turns back a short distance, and to thus prevent the roller from rotating further under the tension of the spring 6, but when the shade is pulled down= wardly slightly and then permitted to move upwardly by a quick or sharp motion, the pawls 9 will be thrown outwardly by centrifugal action, and this enables the roller 1 to rotate under the influence of the spring 6 to wind the shade thereon. When it is desired to lower the shade roller, for purpose of ventilation at the upper end of the window, the cord 34 or the knob or spindle 32 is pulled downwardly, this motion being transmitted by the bar 28 to the shaft 2 of the roller 1. When the bar 28 is pulled downwardly, it pulls downwardly upon the sleeve 10, and shaft 2, and as said shaft 2 is pulled downwardly, it is rotatedto wind 'up the spring 6 farther, the roller 1 in this case being held stationary due to the en gagement of one pawl 9 with the notch 10. The shaft 2 is rotated during its downward movement, due to the fact that when the shaft 2 is moved downwardly, the ribbons 18 are unwound from the spools 1213, thereby compelling said shaft to rotate in such a direction as to wind up the spring 6' during the downward movement of the shaft and roller. During the downward move-- ment of the roller 1, the pawls 26 which are carried by the spool 12 will move past the chamfered notch 25. and when the shade roller is lowered to the desired position, one of the pawls26 will engage the notch 25 to prevent the reverse rotation of the shaft 2, since the spool 12 will be locked to the sleeve 11, which is non-rotatable under all conditions as above indicated. To restore the shade roller to normal raised position, the cord 34 or knob 32 is moved downwardly slightly to disengage the pawl 26 from the notch 25, and then by permitting the parts to rise by a quick movement, the pawls 26 will swing outwardly by centrifugal action, so that the shaft 2 can rotate under the tension of the spring 6. Thus, the spring 6 will rotate the shaft 2 in such a direction as to wind the ribbons 18 upon the spools, whereby the shaft 2 will be raised by the spring 6, and as soon as the motion of the shaft 2 is stopped, one of the pawls 26 will drop into engagement with the notch 25- to prevent the further movement of said shaft.

The rollers 22'23 guide the shaft 2 for vertical movement, and prevent the shaft from 36 out of the way, whereby when the roller is raised adjacent the openings 35, it can be moved outwardly through said openings, and the roller 33 can then be raised and moved through one opening 35. During this operation, the strips 19 are readily dis engaged from the hooks 20. The shade roller can again be applied to the guides in the reverse manner, and during the time that the roller is removed from the guides, the spring 6 is prevented from unwinding, due to the fact that the pawls of the roller and spool 12 in engaging the ratchet sleeve 11 will prevent the roller 1 and shaft 2 from rotating in opposite directions.

Figs. 8 and 9 illustrate how a rack and pinion device can be used instead of the ribbons 18 and spools. The guides 17, which are of channel-shape, are preferably formed of sheet metal, and certain flanges thereof are provided with inwardly projecting racks 18, which are readily formed from the sheet metal.- Pinions 12 and 13 are attached rigidly to the terminals of the shaft 2 and mesh with the racks 18. Anti-friction disks 22 and 23 are rotatable loosely upon the shaft adjacent the pinions 12 and 13, respectively,- and bear against those flanges of the guides opposite the racks 18,- to guide the shaft for vertical movement,- and to hold the pinions in mesh with the racks. The disk 22 of the pinions 12 is upon the inside of the guide 17 to guide said pinion 12 for proper vertical movement, while the disk 23 of the pinion 13 is upon the exterior of the respective guide 17, whereby the pinion 13 is adjustable to accommodate differences in spacing of the guides. In this form, a flanged disk or cap-shaped member 12 is attached to the pinion 12 and carries the pawls 26. The disk 22 is disposed between the pinion 12 and the end of the shaft, which is riveted to hold said disk thereon, and the disk 23 is disposed between the pinion 13 and a collar 23 secured upon the shaft. The disks can rotate freely, to reduce friction, and guide the shaft and roller for proper vertical movement. The disk 22 and the cap 12 are disposed upon opposite sides of the respective rack 18,'to prevent the undue endwise movement of the shaft and roller. The rollers 22 and 23 are eliminated in this form, but the remaining elements, with the exceptions above. noted, are

and 13, the pinion 13 can be adjusted rotatably relative to the shaft 2, so that the shaft 2, operates properly, and with the spools, the spool 13 can be adjusted rotatably relative to the shaft 2 when the set screw 15 is loosened, in order that the shaft will operate properly when moved verticall Tl ie hook form of pawl is preferable over the common push form, by reason of the tendency of the common pawl to assume a position not in line with the direction of force when mounted loosely as necessary for free action, while the present pawl automatically seeks a position corresponding to the line of force. Furthermore, the strongest action of gravity tending to drop the pawl into locking position occurs in the hook form just before the hook is over the recess, while in the ordinary form of pawl, this occurs after the free end of the pawl is past the recess. This makes the locking of the ratchet more positive with the hook or pull type as herein described.

It is preferable to provide a core 50 of wood or other material upon the shaft 2 within the spring 6, and said core may be composed of sections fitted together as seen in Fig. 10. These sections of the core are rotatable freely upon the shaft to reduce friction to a minimum and serve to prevent the excessive contraction of the spring when wound up. The sections of the core can rotate relative to one another, as when one portion of the spring embraces the respective core section, while the other sections are free to rotate with the shaft.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In a device of the character described, a vertically movable non-rotatable means, a roller movable vertically therewith and rotatable at any fixed vertical position thereof, spring means for rotating the roller in one direction at any fixed vertical position thereof, cooperating means carried by the nonrotatable means and roller for preventing such rotation of the roller, and means operatively connected with the spring means and operable to bring the spring means under greater tension when the non-rotating means is moved in one direction, whereby said spring means is operable to move the non rotating means in the opposite direction.

2. In a device of the character described,

vertically movable non-rotatable means, a'

roller movable vertically therewith and rotatable at any fixed vertical position thereof, spring means for rotating said roller in one direction at any fixedvertical position thereof, a pawl carried by the roller and engageable with the non-rotatable means for preventing such rotation of the roller, means operatively connected with the spring means and operable to bring the spring means under greater tension when the non-rotating means is moved in one direction so that it tends to move the non-rotating means in the opposite direction, the third mentioned means including a rotatable element and a pawl carried by said element engageable with the non-rotatable means to hold said means in various positions against the tension of said spring means.

3. In a device of the character described,

a vertically movable shaft, a roller rotatable thereon independently thereof, a spring connecting said shaft and roller for rotating them relative to one another, means for moving said shaft vertically when it is rotated, a non-rotating ratchet member upon said shaft, a pawl carried by the roller and engageable with said member to prevent the rotation of the roller by the spring, and a pawl movable with the shaft and engageable with said member to prevent the rotation of the shaft.

4. In a device of the character described, a shaft, vertical guides for the terminals thereof, said guides and terminals of the shaft .having cooperating means whereby the shaft moves vertically when it is rotated, a roller rotatable upon the shaft between the guides, spring means between the shaft and roller for rotating them relative to one another, a non-rotating ratchet member upon the shaft, and pawls carried by the roller and shaft and engageable with said ratchet member to prevent the rotation of said roller and shaft, the pawls being disengageable from said member by centrifugal action.

5. In a device of the character described, a pair of vertical channel-shaped guides, a vertically movable shaft having its terminals entering said guides, means operatively connecting the terminals of said shaft and certain flanges of said guides whereby when the shaft is rotated it is moved upwardly and when the shaft is moved downwardly it is rotated, the other flanges of the guides having openings adjacent their upper ends, removable pieces normally closing said openings, a roller rotatable upon the shaft between the guides, a spring connecting said shaft and roller for rotating them relative to one another, a ratchet sleeve upon the shaft adjacent one end of the roller, pawls carried by said end of the roller and the corresponding terminal of the shaft and engageable with said sleeve to prevent the rotation of the roller and shaft by said spring, the pawls being disengageable from said sleeve by centrifugal action, and a downwardly projecting member connected to said sleeve and having means in its lower end engaging the respective guide, to prevent the rotation of the sleeve, the last mentioned member being adapted to be moved manually for adjusting the vertical position 10 of the shaft and roller.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of tWo Witnesses.

JOHN CHARLES LION. Witnesses:

T. J. VALENTINE, Jr., J. L. MALLISON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Yatents, Washington, D. G. 

